Hi All - I like the idea a lot so count me in. I will activate a summit during those days. Need to start weighing my kit to see just how close to 1kg I would be then start reducing it. I typically use a KX1 with a linked dipole and a centre extending pole. Seems likely to be over 1kg but will find it way to get it down!

One idea:What about including the weight and power info when sending the report?Report is 59 MINI 42, which would mean I'm MINImalist using 4 watts and 2 Kg equipment.The chasers would only send power i.e. 59 MINI 5 for 5 watts.For CW 599 MINI 31 would mean I'm MINImalist using 3 watts and 1 Kg equipment.Cheers,

Hi Graeme, I think it could be confusing changing the name because perhaps people would think that is a different scheme instead of SOTA.I would rather prefer to add the word MINI separated as we are in SOTA but running under a different condition...

EA2IF:

What about including the weight and power info when sending the report?

Hi Guru, I already thought about that and I was not sure. Perhaps the activator wants to shorten the exchange to run faster... Could it be a bit confusing and mixed up with the report itself? 59 MINI 42... Which is what?

I think it's best to add it as an extra info so that the activator or chaser decide if it is given or not?What do you prefer, gents?73 de Ignacio

Nice idea, it would certainly create a buzz to work long distance QRP to QRP with minimalist stations.

I go along with Guru though, the small rig QRP CW operator seems to be a rare beast.

Really?I thought a large proportion of SOTA operators were in this class. When I tried for VK on last year's ANZAC week-end I managed it with 4 Watts out, and while Gerard VK2IO, was using 10W, Andrew VK3JBL thought he was using 5W, but then found it was 2.5W, and we all had good solid contacts, both ways I think.

Here it's always 4W (or less), including from home. I'd be shocked to think that QRP was a novelty on the hills.

Output power is different on the start of an activation and on the end of it. On a summit I don't know what is my output power

Hi Pedro,You are right on this: output power may get reduced as the activation goes on and the battery empties.I don't have any means to measure my output power while activating other than the theoretical values 5, 2.5, 1, 0.5 output power level selected on my FT-817ND rig.Congrats because your signal sounded nice with your 3watts the other day and I heard you working some DX from North America.Best 73 de Guru

Hi John, glad this attracts you. I have never used a tree to activate before. In most of the summits I climbed so far there wasn't any, and I always carry a 5m pole with me.If you want to activate on a summit with trees that's fine and you get rid of the pole so that you can take other gear in exchange...

Like the look of your gear. I have a similar setup. The key component is the MTR radio.I have activated summits with this equipment. Current Hardware;KD1JV MTR v2Pico PaddleLNR EFT with 7m of RG174 Coax using a SotaBeams winder.850mAh lipobrings the hardware to around 500g. Add to that a mini pole and notebook (170 + 230) to bring the total to 900 grams

Still tinkering with my gear currently .22kg over the limit for CW only, i will also be bringing a Handheld for 2m FM not included in the weight.Setup at the moment- mtr with a linked dipole for 40/30/20 bands and a 4m telescopic pole.

Managed to thin my equipment and drop a few pounds of my gear, listed the weight below along with the changes made. I was lucky with work sending me to GW/NW-062 Hope Mountain for a fault and it was a quick dash up to the summit for a test of my equipment prior to setting of for home.I now have a spare linked dipole for 20/30/40 made with DX UL wire and has only a 1m length of rg174 with a female bnc connector free to good home if anyone would like it.

Total Weight 873g CW only

238g - Antenna system linked dipole for 17/20/30/40m bands, includes 3 pegs cut in half and thinner para cord, lighter wire and I used cable ties to join the links together. (used new nail clippers for a smooth cut on the cable ties)

For those who don't have it written on their calendars the SOTA miniimum weight activation weekend starts a week from today. I'm getting closer but still overweight for the (SSB) set-up. If I could find a site where I don't need the fishing pole mast, but can use something local for antenna support, I might just squeeze under the 1.5 kilos.

Tested my kit on Tuesday on G/CE-001. All up weight was 901gms including the 5m travel pole. I can shave quite a bit off that. I'll use my titanium tent pegs, shorter guy lines, lighter and shorter feeder and shorter pencil with tiny notepad

Hello Ed,I think you probably are already within the limits.Don't get confused: for a SSB station it is 2,5 kg:

AH! OK - rechecking ....Tnx Ed.

UPDATE - 2.5 kilo exactly without the mast 3.1 KG with it. But nothing can go wrong - no tools no first aid kit, no warm gloves, no spare battery, no SOTA flag, no ground pegs for the antenna cords. I had to even take the FT-817 out of it's leather case to get down to these values!